Why did Sanballat and Geshem want to meet Nehemiah in Ono's plain? Setting the Scene • Jerusalem’s wall was almost finished (Nehemiah 6:1). • Opposition leaders Sanballat and Geshem had already mocked, threatened, and plotted against the work (2:10, 19; 4:1–3, 7–8). • With the gates still unset, they made one last attempt: an invitation to meet “in one of the villages of the plain of Ono” (6:2). Scripture’s Plain Statement Nehemiah 6:2: “Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: ‘Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.’ But they were scheming to harm me.” • Scripture explicitly declares their intent: “to harm.” • Nehemiah believed that word, treating it as literal fact. Where Is Ono, and Why There? • Ono lay about 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem, on the border of Judah and Philistia. • Isolated plains meant: – Fewer Judean witnesses or defenders. – Easier ambush or assassination. – Removing Nehemiah from the protective presence of the workers and the nearly finished wall. Unmasking Their Motives 1. Physical Harm or Assassination – The phrase “to harm me” (Hebrew rāʿāh) can mean evil intent, injury, or calamity. – Similar plots: Nehemiah 4:11; 6:10–13. 2. Strategic Delay – With the leader gone, work would stall; gates might never be set. – Nehemiah 6:9: “They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.’” 3. Psychological Warfare – Luring him away signaled weakness to the builders, lowering morale (cf. 4:10). 4. Political Undermining – If Nehemiah left the city, critics could accuse him of secret deals or betrayal (6:6–7). 5. Satanic Opposition – Ultimately, their schemes mirrored the adversary’s tactics: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10); “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8). Pattern of Persistent Opposition • Four identical invitations (6:4) show relentless pressure. • False prophecy inside Jerusalem (6:10–13) shows layered deception. • The enemies’ rhythm: ridicule → intimidation → conspiracy → compromise → slander. • Nehemiah’s consistent response: vigilance, prayer, steadfast work (4:9; 6:3). Lessons Drawn Directly from the Text • Trust Scripture’s clear statements; Nehemiah believed God’s warning about harm. • Do not negotiate with those bent on evil (Proverbs 26:24–26). • Stay at the task God assigns; Nehemiah’s reply, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down” (6:3), models discernment and priority. • Expect intensified attacks as God’s work nears completion (Galatians 6:9). • God turns enemy schemes on their heads; the wall was finished “in fifty-two days” (6:15). Summary Sanballat and Geshem sought the meeting in Ono to lure Nehemiah away from Jerusalem, isolate him, halt the construction, and likely kill or discredit him. Scripture plainly states their evil intent, and the surrounding verses confirm a multi-layered strategy of harm, delay, fear, and slander—yet the work was completed because God’s servant discerned and resisted their scheme. |
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